Save The Date by Morgan Matson | READING TOUR Non-Spoiler Review!

This book was sent to me from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review and participation in the reading tour for the July 1st Australia release of this novel. Also a big thank you to AusYABloggers!

Heyo Bookaholics!

It’s Another Reading Tour!

I was so excited when I was contacted by Simon and Schuster to participate in this Reading Tour as I have NEVER ever read a book written by Morgan Matson, despite it being my goal to do so sometime this year! I’ve heard her books are amazing, and this one certainly did not disappoint!

Charlie Grant tries to keep her life as normal as possible. Hanging out with her best friend, pining for Jesse Foster – who she’s loved since she was twelve – and generally flying under the radar as much as she can. But sometimes normal is just another word for stuck, and this weekend that’s all going to change. Not only will everyone be back home for her sister’s wedding, but she’s also juggling:

– a rented dog that just won’t stop howling
– an unexpectedly hot wedding-coordinator’s nephew
– her favourite brother bringing home his HORRIBLE new girlfriend
– fear that her parents’ marriage is falling apart – and the return to town of the boy she’s loved practically all her life…

Over the course of four days Charlie will learn there’s so much more to each member of her family than she imagined, even herself, and that maybe letting go of the things she’s been holding on tightest to can help her find what really keeps them together.

The above cover is the UK/ AUS one, which is the one I received, though doesn’t relate to the story as well as the US cover does.

REVIEW!

1:18am 23rd of June 2018

If you asked me to describe a perfect book I give you this one and tell you to never put it down, keep it within reach at all times, and whoever you feel like no one is there for you remember to turn back to the people who raised you.

The value of family was the main theme of this novel and the heartwarming way in which Morgan Matson splotched the family dynamics and change from the view of the youngest sibling is something I will only be able to experience through a story. it was so perfectly done that in no way was I able to guess what would occur at the plot points, and much like the Grant’s family’s crazy lives, this book just kept popping up crazy plot twists that melded perfectly and we’re sad, shocking and funny in succession.

We felt the suspense of family drama and the hilarity of family jokes. I wanted to cry, then laugh and run and hug my parents and sister and thank them for always being there for me in my very own functionally dysfunctional family.

This wonderful heartwarming novel teaches us how to love and treasure our family – the ones who raised us and whom we formed deep bonds with – but also how this family can change and shift in many ways but still be the same as before; especially if there are changes that must be dealt with.

Present Day

Since I’m going spoiler free on this review, above is the first of three comics featured in the novel, I’ll only be posting two because they were so cute and honestly, they really don’t spoil anything.

There were so so many elements and story arcs in this novel that once I identified this, I was quite concerned it was going to flop somewhere, or there’d be a plot hole that I wouldn’t like; but WOW. All the story arcs flowed nicely and wove around each other like a beautiful French braid.

The story opens with Charlie, our main character, just a young girl with a major crush and a mother who draws her family in the newspaper for a living. Then there’s the missing brother and the upcoming wedding; which all seems perfect until…

Save The Date, as its name would suggest revolves around the upcoming wedding but disaster strikes, the whole family has to make the new arrangements work as well as being able to wrangle feuding family members, wedding crashers and lots of horrible news.

Charlie takes the hardest hit in this novel when she realises that her crush is a literal crush and learns the hard way that some love is purely visual, and the emotional kind was right in front of her the whole time.

All the characters in this novel were pure and real and each of them played their own part in the story, each with their own emotional journey and hurdle to overcome. These people could honestly be your brother, sister, neighbour; they just felt too real.

★ Rating ★

If you read this book you will be able to see why I rated this a ★★★★★ (5/5 stars). I don’t think I need to say any more about this.

I wanted the review to be more about my feelings towards the book and Charlie rather than an in-depth analysis of the characters and plot; as both were so extensive and I may need to make a video to discuss those aspects.

The Author: Morgan Matson

Oh My Gosh *gasps*

How pretty is this photo!!! I want my future author photo to be taken like this! You heard it here first my friends

Morgan Matson is a New York Times bestselling author. She received her MFA in writing for children from the New School and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for her first book, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, which was also recognized as an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults. Her second book, Second Chance Summer, won the California State Book Award. She lives in Los Angeles.

Read On!

If your interested in other people’s views and opinions on this books, or some fun Save The Date related posts/ videos/ fun stuff; follow the below link to be taken to the tour schedule which includes a list of all participants and the links to their uploads!

The Girl Behind The Blog

When I’m not going crazy over my Uni work, or watching YouTube videos; you’ll find me lurking in bookstores, talking to myself (no joke I actually do this); or eating. Though not at the same time, because books + food = bad!

I’ve started many projects. Some of which won’t ever be finished. I have journals on top of journals, and unfinished manuscripts that I attend to from time to time. My current project is my book The Inversion, which I spoke about in a blog post a while back!

To find out more about me, you can visit my About mepage where I talk about things I like! You can start a conversation with me on my Instagram too!

P.S. If any of you have seen The Saddle Club, you’d understand the above reference, and even though the show is no more, the theme song never leaves my head!!

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Hi! I'm Brittany, a (recently graduated!) 21 year old History and Sociology student. I can usually be found tucked into a cosy spot with a book, a cup of tea, and maybe a cat or two. @booksteabee on twitter and goodreads